Virtual Academy, hybrid learning, student safety topics at SJSD virtual town hall

Virtual Academy, hybrid learning, student safety topics at SJSD virtual town hall

Joining us, i'm alan van zandt.

The st.

Joseph school district confirmed tonight they will continue with some form of in-class learning for next semester.

That was shared during a virtual town hall shared on the district's youtube and facebook pages.

They admit the struggle the pandemic has been on both students and teachers -- but they're ready to push onward.

<< there's no question that the pandemic has made it tougher on kids to learn this year."large school districts are seeing a greater number of students who are receiving d's and f's, not just in virtual learning but in face to face."

That was just part of the message st.

Joseph school district administrators giving during a virtual town hall held wednesday night."we are seeing the same results in our virtual academy.

We are seeing the same results in our face to face.

It has been a struggle and no one will candy coat that."administrators saying more than 24-hundred students are enrolled in the virtual academy for 2nd semester, down from about 26- hundred 1st semester.

The virtual town hall included a chance for parents to send in their questions to administrators and have them answered in real time.

"we want our kids in school.

We know they need it not just for academics, but for their mental health.

We want to have them here, that's our main goal but we want to do it in the safest possible way."some questions raised concerns about student safety in the classroom -- the head of school nursing stressing parents to keep their kids home if they feel at all ill.

Also their desires to not unnessarily quarantine students if they don't have to "we will look at all the seating charts.

We don't just do it on a whim to send a kid home.

It takes a lot of time and energy but if it keeps one kid in their seat, we're going to do it."the winter sports season is going on as scheduled, with some modifications on attendance.

Administrators admit that restrictions put into place to protect the kids' physical health are definitely affecting their mental health.

"not being able to go to the movies, not being able to go en masse to a friend's birthday party or a basketball game.

Those are all things that present burdens."

This was just the first virtual town hall scheduled..

The district plans on holding others on a monthly